SEASON ONE- BEFORE STORYBROOKE

Disclaimer- If it came from StoryBrooke or the story book it isn't mine at any time.

Pinocchio carefully watched the scene in front of him from hidden behind the little cottage. The beautiful princess was walking along and waving to the people. She looked so happy and Pinocchio was instantly drawn to her. It wasn't until Pinocchio ran forward to hide behind a fruit truck that he had a full view of the beautiful princess, and her bulging abdomen. He looked around for the brave prince but to his relief he didn't see him, in truth Prince James scared the young boy. Pinocchio bent down to talk to his small kitten, "Isn't she beautiful? She and the prince are having a baby. Pa says that it will be the perfect child with its father's bravery and her beauty, but I don't think anyone is as pretty as the princess. Look how nice she is to the people I wish I could tell her hello." He stood up to watch snow again.

Then the cat darted out to the princess, she picked him up looked at the cat, "Where did you come from little kitty?" she asked sweetly.

Pinocchio sucked in a breath of air trying to be brave as he approached the beautiful princess. "H-Hello ma'am I am Pinocchio and that is my kitten, your majesty." He bowed as low as he possibly could.

"Oh well here you go young gentleman," she said handing him back the small black cat.

Pinocchio turned to walk away before she called him back, "Excuse me Pinocchio." She said.

"Yes your majesty?" He asked bowing again.

"Are you the son of Gepetto?" She asked kindly.

Pinocchio was surprised. "Indeed I am you majesty but if I may inquire how do you know my father?" He tried to be polite like his father taught him.

"All of my subjects are of great value to me young gentleman, now will you tell your father that I intend to come visit him today?" She asked.

Pinocchio's face turned white and he was completely taken a back. The princess was to be in his cottage! "Yes I will tell him the princess will be visiting your majesty." He said bowing again.

Snow smiled at his excess of bows then said, "It will be the prince and I."

"Very well, I must go tell him you highness." August answered before turning and running home.

He ran all the way to the cottage and was out of breath by the time he arrived. "Father, Father" he panted.

"What is it my boy?" Gepetto asked.

"The prince and princess are coming!" He yelled to the old man.

"Here? How do you know this?" Gepetto insisted

"I talked to the princess in the town square," he said proudly but Gepetto was not pleased with his son.

"Pinocchio you mustn't talk to the royals. That's not what we are." Gepetto was always stern about their place in the social order because in truth the old man feared the royals condescending attitude toward an old man with a wooden son.

"Yes father," Pinocchio as he ran outside with plans blooming in his head. Once outside the boy began to set up his trap. He ran out to the field behind the cottage where many animals were pastured. He hoped over the fence and grabbed a metal bucket. He carried the bucket up to the nearest female cow. He petted the back of it calmly and began to talk. "Hello little cow, I know your lonely since Jack left you here and all but I need some milk." He then put the bucket under her udder and milked the cow. After the bucket was halfway full he thanked the cow and filled the bucket the rest of the way with mud. A grin crept across Pinocchio's face as he saw a large cow patty. "Perfect" he muttered before using a stick to put the dung into the bucket. He then used the same stick to mix the milk, mud, and dung together. After hours more work he washed up and dressed in his best. Pinocchio ran out to the garden and pick a bouquet of flowers. Before he knew it the princess was coming up the walk with the prince. She was walking in the house first. "Your majesty," he yelled and they both turned around.

"Oh hello Pinocchio," the princess said and he was happy she remembered him.

He held out the bouquet for her. "I picked you some flowers your majesty." He said not offering to move any closer.

"Why thank you." She said walking towards the boy. She thought Pinocchio seemed like a very sweet seven-year-old and she was already fond of the boy.

He gave her the flowers then smiled his sweetest smile as the Prince walked through the doorway and his concoction fell down on his head.

"Oh Charming!" Snow cried out.

The prince looked shocked and looked from Gepetto to his son in attempt to find the culprit. Gepetto knew his boys work well. "Pinocchio!"

The boy turned pale and walked to his father. "Yes Pa?" he asked trying to look innocent.

"Did you do this?" Gepetto asked.

"Of course not father," the boy lied and felt his leg turn to wood as he stood there, "I did father." Pinocchio said looking ashamed as his leg turned back to flesh.

"How could you my boy?" He asked.

"Well father…." Pinocchio began but his dad cut him off.

"Go to the tree," Gepetto said through clenched teeth.

"Oh no Gepetto, my good man, please don't be so hard on the poor boy. I played quite a few tricks in my day." The prince said.

Gepetto turned red. He nodded but Pinocchio knew that he needed to clear out before his father changed his mind.

"Let's see if we can't find you something to wear your majesty." Gepetto said.

A few hours later the adults were gathered around the table as Pinocchio watched from a hidden corner.

He couldn't catch the whole conversation but he heard a few things, and to him it seemed they wanted a magic wardrobe from his father. The princess wanted it to protect her child, a daughter. His father agreed to build them a wardrobe to send the princess but he said that he only had enough magic left to send one person through.

They parted with a look of fear promising to return for the wardrobe soon.

"Pinocchio come here now," he knelt before his son, "I have to save the princess but if the curse is as bad as they say I can't leave you here my boy."

"What will we do?" Pinocchio asked worried by the sorrow filled look in his father's eye.

"I lied to the princess; I have enough magic for two." He said solemnly.

"You say not to lie Pa." Pinocchio crossed his little arms and Gepetto was hit with a wave of sadness as he realized how small his boy really was. Sometime Pinocchio seemed older but he really was barely seven.

"This was an exception." He told his son, "Now they will be here in three days so we must build the wardrobe tonight so I can send you before they arrive."

They spent the night working together in silence and while Pinocchio loved working with his father he didn't realize how precious this last night would later be to him. They finished early the next morning and Gepetto knelt in front of his small son once more, "I love you my boy."

Gepetto rarely told Pinocchio this but his son didn't hesitate to answer back, "I love you too Pa."

"I need you to promise me three things."

"What are they?"

"Promise me you won't lie anymore."

"I promise"

"Now promise that once the curse is cast you will find me."

"I promise pa."

"Finally and more important than anything else look after the little princess and her mother when they come through together."

"Yes Pa I promise," Pinocchio said before hugging his dad. The reality of it all hit the little boy, "I won't see you again will I Pa?"

"No my son you will see me again but it won't be for a very long time, and I will miss you but you have to have hope son." Gepetto was close to tears.

"I will miss you to Pa but we will be okay. I have hope." Pinocchio said through his tears, "I'll be strong like you pa."

"I know you will Pinocchio." Gepetto said before sealing the wardrobe.

The wardrobe began to shake and Pinocchio was filled with fear. When he was able to open his eyes again he was in the middle of woods in a strange land.

NEXT TIME ON ONCE UPON A WOODENSWAN AUGUST WILL MEET THE NEXT GUEST TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE WARDROBE.